Changing public space

(Slager, 2007). There are also hybrid cultural squares that combine the characteristics of the two
subcategories. The Canadaplein in Alkmaar, for instance, has become the centre of culture since
its redevelopment in 2000. The square is now surrounded by a theatre, the Stedelijk Museum, the
library, and the school of music. While the theatre attracts visitors in the evening, the other three
facilities are mainly open only during the day.
The retail square is a public space that is largely surrounded by shops and other public-service
buildings such as a library, bank, and post office. It can also be used as market place. The retail
square does not have to be outdoors; it can also take the form of an atrium inside a shopping
mall. Because of the opening hours of the surrounding shops and services, and the fact that
markets are usually daylight activities, the use of the retail square peaks during the day. Logically,
shops are dominant in the retail square. However, they do not necessarily have to extend to all
sides of the square. In fact, full shop coverage is rare on retail squares; one or two sides of the
square tend to have a different function. Examples abound: Gouda’s Markt, Utrecht’s Vredenburg,
and Amsterdam’s Waterlooplein (Figure 5.2). The Waterlooplein came into existence in 1880 when
two canals were filled in. In the 1890s, Jewish merchants started to use the square as a market
place. Today, it hosts a daily flea market. The square is surrounded by diverse functions: the
Stopera, a multifunctional public-service structure containing the municipal music theatre and
City Hall, several houses of worship, and a number of apartment blocks. However, it is mainly
characterised by the 300 market stalls that have a permanent location on the square. Because the
vendors are open for business from 9 am to 5 pm, they only attract visitors during the day.
The café square is a public space that is dominated by cafés, restaurants, and their outdoor
terraces. At least ten per cent of the total surface of the café square is covered by sidewalk cafés
(see Table 5.4). This is a booming sector in Western Europe, especially in the summertime.
However, inclement weather need not be a deterrent, as demonstrated by the provision of
heaters and blankets to stimulate the use of sidewalk cafés. Unlike the cultural and retail square,
the use of the café square is spread out over the day because cafés are open almost around the
clock. Examples of café squares can be found in many Dutch cities: the Korenmarkt in Arnhem,
the Neude in Utrecht, and the Beestenmarkt in Delft (Figure 3.2). An example in Amsterdam
is the Leidseplein, which was developed near the city gates in the 17th century. Several hotels,
theatres, and cinemas are currently located in its vicinity. Yet the square is most famous for its
sprawling sidewalk cafés, which cover more than half its surface (Figure 5.3). Together with
the Rembrandtplein – another café square in the centre of Amsterdam – the Leidseplein is an
important entertainment centre for both residents and tourists.
Besides the three commercial subcategories, there are also non-commercial squares, which largely
fall into three subcategories: civil, residential, and parking squares. The civil square is a public
space that has a religious or political-administrative function – or a combination of both.
Examples include the Vrijthof in Maastricht and the Plein in The Hague. The Dam in Amsterdam
also falls into this subcategory (Figure 5.4/Section 2.5). The Dam has been transformed from
a market place into a national square. It is surrounded by the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk
(the coronation church), and the national war monument. The civil square is designed to
accommodate a wide range of public functions and a diverse population of users.
The residential square, on the other hand, is a public space that serves as a living environment
for local residents. It resembles Klaassen’s (1994) recreational square, which is used as a
playground and has little traffic and few facilities (Table 2.2). Many residential squares were
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